7
Kean University
EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 4230 (03)
(Monday & Wednesday 12:30-3:20PM)
SPRING 2007
Ψ
Instructor: Verneda P. Hamm Baugh, Ph.D.
Office: J-330D 908-737-4008
v Course Syllabus
v Selected Reviews
v Labs
v Writing the Research Paper
This version does not include Labs 8, 9, 10, the correlation review sheet, or the exam reviews.
Experimental Psychology – 4230 (03) Course Syllabus, Spring 2007
Instructor: Verneda P. Hamm Baugh, Ph.D. Office: Hutchinson, J-330D
Phone: 908-737-4008; 908-737-4000 (secretary) email:
webpage: www.kean.edu/~vbaugh
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 9:30 – 11am; Friday 9am – 12pm
Required Text: Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister, E. B. & Zechmeister, J. S. (2006). Research Methods in Psychology. 7th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Required Presentation: May 2 – College Hour
Required Lab Fee: $3.00 syllabus book; Pay by February 5, 2007
Recommended Reference: American Psychological Association Manual, 5th edition. Edition. Recommended Websites: www.apa.org, http://apastyle.apa.org
Course Objectives
The objectives of this course are to familiarize students with the procedures and assumptions of the scientific method as applied to psychology, to acquaint students with methods of observation used by psychologists in the collection of data in research, and to help students develop analytic skills in the evaluation of psychological research. Students will also develop skills in identifying and defining psychological problems of a research nature, design and conduct experiments, perform appropriate data analyses, and develop report-writing skills.
1) Each student is required to develop and conduct an original experiment which involves deciding on a topic of interest, generating hypotheses, designing the study, recruiting subjects, analyzing the data and writing the final report in APA (American Psychological Association) style. Please note the dates when specific aspects of the study are due. Each student is required to present their experiment and results at the 10th Annual Psychology Department Research Conference on May 2 during college hour. Make the necessary arrangements early in the semester to ensure that you can meet this requirement. This research paper will constitute 45% of your grade (35% for the written paper and 10% for the presentation).
2) Students are also required to complete in-class experiments and assignments. There may be no opportunity to make up missed experiments so class attendance is crucial. These experiments and assignments will constitute 15% of your grade. Credit will be given only to those assignments that are completed neatly, and turned in on time.
3) There will be 4 exams (l0% each). Tentative exam dates on the outline and may be changed at any time. No make-up exams without prior notice and missed exams must be taken within one week of the original exam date.
Attendance
Class attendance is required of all students. Consistent and active student participation is necessary for the success of this course. There will be a one letter-grade reduction of the final course grade for any student who has more than 5 unexcused class meetings. Excused absences include doctor’s notes, official university business or other documented letters/forms including the name and phone number of the person providing the excuse.
Academic Dishonesty
No form of academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, etc.) will be tolerated. Kean University has established guidelines for all academic dishonesty. Suspected academic dishonesty will be handled according to those guidelines.
Visit http://www. kean.edu/academicintegrity.html to read Kean University’s policies.
Turnitin.com
Research papers must be submitted to turnitin.com prior to the paper due date. More details will be provided early in the semester.
*Notes:
1. No assignments/papers accepted via email.
2. Make two (2) copies of all materials turned in for review or grading.
3. Please turn all pagers and cellular phones to the off or vibrate position during the class period.
4. No incomplete (I) grades will be given for unfinished research papers since the entire semester is given to complete this assignment
Important Dates for Research Project
By Jan 31 Submit your research topic. Your study should be limited to 2 or 3 groups and no more than 2 independent variables.
By Feb 12 Submit an expanded description (typed) of your topic including at least 4 scientific references (in APA style) that are relevant to your topic. If you cannot find 4 relevant references, change your topic.
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Start writing the introduction of your paper. The introduction must be a minimum of 2 full typed (double-spaced) pages and no more than 4 total pages. Start developing the materials for your study.
By Feb 21 Submit the materials you plan to use for data collection (e.g., questionnaires, scenarios, word lists, etc.) once materials are approved you can begin collecting data.
By Mar 5 Submit a typed draft of your completed introduction including the statement of the problem, review of relevant research, statement of hypothesis, and reference list.
Mar 20 Last day to withdraw from class with a grade W
You should have all of your research materials organized and your data collected by Mar 26 to allow time to meet with me about data analysis and other matters during the final weeks of the semester.
NOTE: Data analysis will end on April 16, 2007. If data is not analyzed by that date, the Results section of your paper will receive 0 points.
Apr 23 Final paper due. One point will be deducted for every day the paper is late. Papers must be handed in to me personally. Do not put final papers in my mailbox. Make 2 copies of your paper; one for you and one for me.
May 2 Research Conference – UC 228; 3pm – 5pm (College Hour)
*Important Notes:
1. Everyone must turn in a typed draft of the introduction by Mar 5. One point will be deducted for every class meeting the introduction is late.
4. Everyone must show me research materials and get approval before data collection begins. If not, the paper will not be accepted.
5. Everyone must meet with me for data analysis. No points will be given to the Results section if this condition is not met.
Course Outline
Following is a tentative schedule for the chapters we will cover, lab and exam dates. This outline may be changed at any time so class attendance is crucial.
Week 1 Jan 17 Introduction and Overview of Class
The Research Paper
Week 2 Jan 22 Chapters 2 & 3/ Scientific Method
Jan 24 Scientific Methods and Ethics Challenge Questions/Lab
Week 3 Jan 29 Scientific Method and Ethics
Lab
Jan 31 Review Exam 1
Challenge Questions Chpt.4
Descriptive Methods/Chapters 4 & 5
Week 4 Feb 5 Exam 1 – Chpts. 2 & 3
Chapters 4 & 5
Lab Fees Due
Feb 7 Chapters 4 & 5
Lab /Challenge Questions
Correlational Studies
Week 5 Feb 12 Correlational Studies
Challenge Questions
Expanded description due
Feb 14 ♥ Review Exam 2
Lab
Experimental Methods/Chapter 7 (pp.212-225)
Week 6 Feb 19 NO CLASSES – PRESIDENT’S DAY
Feb 21 Exam 2 – Chpts. 4, 5 & Correlational Studies
Chpt.7 (pp.212-225)
Materials should be prepared by now
Meetings about research paper
Week 7 Feb 26 Chapters 7 &14
Lab
Feb 28 Review Lab 5
Post-hoc tests, Lab
Week 8 Mar 5 Review Lab 6
Review for Exam 3
Lab 7, Introductions Due
Mar 7 Continue Review
Catch-up, Meetings about research paper
Week 9 Mar 12 NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
Mar 14 NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
Week 10 Mar 19 Review
Complex Designs/Chapter9 Meetings about research paper
Last day to withdraw with W – Mar 20
Mar 21 Exam 3 – Chapters 7 & 14
Chapter 9
Week 11 Mar 26 Chpt. 9 (2x2 complex designs)
Meetings about research papers
Mar 28 Chpt. 9
Lab
Week 12 Apr 2 Repeated Measures Design/Chapter 8
Lab
Apr 4 Chapter 8
Meetings about research paper
Week 13 Apr 9 Chapters 8 & 9
Meetings about research paper
Apr 11 Open Class – Catch-up if necessary
Week 14 Apr 16 Exam 4 – Chpts. 8 & 9
Last Day for Data Analysis
Poster Construction
Apr 18 Exam 4 if necessary
Poster Construction
Week 15 Apr 23 Final Research Papers Due
Apr 25 NO CLASS
Week 16 Apr 30 In-Class Presentations
May 2 Required Poster Presentations at the
10th Annual Research Conference
Research Paper - Expanded Description - Due Feb 12
1. Provide an expanded description of your topic including the groups you will study (i.e., divided by age, sex, treatment, etc.).
2. You should also give more detail about the materials you will use (questionnaire, word lists, pictures, etc.).
3. Remember: In scientific writing avoid using personal pronouns such as I and my.
Following is an example of an expanded description for a study about word recall. Note that the expanded description is written in future tense. However, your paper should be written in past tense.
Expanded Description
This research project will examine the ability of college students to recall a list of abstract words under two different conditions. Thirty students will be randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups will be asked to study a list of 15 abstract words. After studying the words, group 1 will recall the words immediately and group 2 will recall the words after engaging in a 3-minute distractor task. It is hypothesized that those who recall the words immediately after study will recall more words than those who engage in a distractor task.
4. You must also provide a list of at least 4 references related to your topic. These can be journal articles, book chapters, or other relevant research articles directly related to your topic. References from sources such as Psychology Today, newspaper articles, popular magazines or the Internet (except those that are downloaded from journals) are not scientific in nature. Your primary sources should be from scientific references. Other sources can be used to supplement you primary sources. If you are having a problem locating relevant articles, please see me before Feb 12. All references must be written in APA style.
*****Important Note*****
The Kean library may not have all of the journals you will need. Therefore, begin working on your paper early and allow for the possibility that you will need to visit libraries at other schools.
psy4230 –spring2007
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Examples of APA style – Check http://apastyle.apa.org
Different styles are used for referencing from different sources. Following are some of the more common sources of references. If you have a reference from a different type of source check the latest APA manual, the website, or see me about the proper way to cite the reference. Remember that references are always listed in alphabetical order.
(Periodical/Journal Article)
Buss, D. M., & Schmitt, D. P. (1993). Sexual strategies theory: An
evolutionary perspective on human mating. Psychological Review, 100,
204-232.
(Magazine Article)
Henry, W. A. (1990, April 9). Beyond the melting pot. Time, 135, 28-31.
(Article or Chapter in edited book)
O’Neil, J. M., & Egan, J. (1992). Men’s and women’s gender role journeys:
Metaphor for healing, transition, and transformation. In B. R. Wainrib (Ed.), Gender issues across the life cycle (pp. 107-123). New York: Springer.
(On-line Sources)
Check the 5th edition of the APA manual or website: http://apastyle.apa.org
*Please Note: Do not begin your study until your materials are approved. We are proceeding in a series of steps to ensure that your study is carefully planned and constructed. You must meet the deadlines for assignments during this process. The semester will be over before you know it.****
The next step, if you have not already begun, is to prepare your materials (I must see all materials before you begin collecting data) and begin writing your introduction. The introduction should give some background on your topic. For example, if you are interested in the ability to recall words, you should include information about other studies done on recall of words and some of the factors that influence the recall of words. Previous research may also influence the hypothesis that you make. The last paragraph or few sentences of your introduction should describe your study and what you expect to find if you have a clear hypothesis in mind. For example, it may be helpful in terms of clarity to begin the last paragraph of your introduction in the following manner:
The present study was designed to...... It was hypothesized that ......
(notice that the sentence is written in the past tense)
LABS
Lab 1
Hypothesis and Operational Definition Exercise
Answer the following questions for hypotheses 1 and 2.
a. What are the independent and dependent variables?
b. State an operational definition for each variable. This requires that you describe how the IV might be manipulated (how many levels would you use) and how the DV might be measured.
Hypothesis 1. Listening to music while studying will increase students’ retention of text material.
Hypothesis 2. Exercising in the morning rather than at night facilitates weight loss.
Confounding Variables
For the following descriptions of experiments:
a. Identify the IV and DV.
b. Identify any confounding variable(s).
c. How would you "unconfound" the experiment?
1. Tom Rogers wanted to test a new "singalong" method to teach math to 4th graders (e.g., "I love to multiply" to the tune of "God Bless America"). He used the singalong method in his first period class. His sixth period students continued solving math problems with the old method. At the end of the term, Mr. Rogers found that the first period class scored significantly lower than the sixth period class on a math achievement test. He concluded that the singalong method was a total failure.
2. A drug company developed a new medication to control the manic phase of bipolar manic-depression. The firm hired a hospital psychiatrist to test the effectiveness of the drug. He identified a group of manic-depressive patients and randomly assigned them to a drug or placebo group. Nurse Ratched was told to administer the drug and Nurse Johnson was told to administer the placebo. Each nurse made daily observations of her patients during treatment. A month later the observations were compared. In general, patients in the drug group had behaved more "normally" than patients in the placebo group. The drug company publicized its product's effectiveness.